UConn has no plans to leave Big East, with news of Syracuse, Pittsburgh planning exit

Rich Elliott, Staff Writer

Updated 12:07 am, Sunday, September 18, 2011

Syracuse was a founding member of the Big East in 1979. Pittsburgh joined the league in 1982. Both schools now appear poised to join the Atlantic Coast Conference.

According to published reports, Syracuse and Pittsburgh have submitted letters of application to join the ACC. There is no timetable on when or if a definitive move will be made, but a UConn source said Saturday that the potential departure of Syracuse and Pittsburgh is a distinct possibility.

"Doing some tea leaves (Saturday) morning, I guess there's the possibility," the source said. "I think the Big 12 cards have to fall first. If Texas and Oklahoma decide they're going to the Pac-12, and they take like Texas Tech or Oklahoma State with them, somebody like Kansas and Kansas State and Iowa State maybe join the Big East."

Saturday night, ACC officials announced a 9:30 a.m. Sunday teleconference but did not disclose the subject of the call.

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UConn's source said that the school has no plans to leave the Big East. The university has also been a member of the conference since its inception.

"I think we'd like to stay in the Big East,'' the source said. "It's made sense the last 30 years. I don't think there's any plans (to leave). With Texas Christian coming in next year ... as you know, the whole thing is driven by football. I'm sure (Syracuse men's basketball coach) Jim Boeheim has no desire to leave the Big East.

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"And who knows, this might be something that Syracuse and Pittsburgh want to do just kind of preemptive or just to make sure they're safe. Who knows? But I think there is a little something to it, let's put it that way.''

Texas Christian's addition is expected to make the Big East much more attractive for its television rights. The Big East was close to signing a contract extension for its television rights with ESPN this year, walking away from a nine-year deal that reportedly was worth about $1 billion.

This would not be the first time that a member of the Big East has left for the ACC. Miami and Virginia Tech joined the ACC in 2004. Boston College followed in 2005.

The Big East requires schools to pay a $5 million exit fee and they must provide the conference with 27 months notice.

The Big East's situation is tricky because of seven nonfootball members -- such as Georgetown and Villanova -- that help make it one of the nation's strongest basketball conferences. The basketball schools and football schools often have different agendas. But losing Pitt and Syracuse would be a huge blow to Big East basketball as well as football.

UConn head football coach Paul Pasqualoni, who previously served as the head coach at Syracuse from 1991-2004, said during his conference call Saturday that he has not paid much attention to the developments regarding Syracuse and Pittsburgh. He did, however, give the Big East administration a vote of confidence.

"I think the leadership of the Big East ... the presidents within the conference and the Big East conference office will handle everything they can do in the best interests of the Big East,'' Pasqualoni said.

UConn officials would not comment on either the situation surrounding the departure of Syracuse and Pittsburgh or the university's own plans regarding conference affiliation.